Premier League

SC: PO return won't distract us

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:02:00

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge will be assessed over the
weekend to determine whether he is fit enough to face West Brom on
Monday.

The England international pulled out of the midweek friendly
against Brazil with a thigh problem sustained in last weekend's
draw at Manchester City.

Winger Raheem Sterling, who also withdrew from international
duty, is fit while new signing Philippe Coutinho has had his first
week of training after his move from Inter Milan but may require
more time.

West Brom left-back Goran Popov will start a three-match
suspension after being sent off for spitting at Tottenham defender
Kyle Walker, ruling him out of Monday's clash at Anfield.

Baggies midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu is in contention to return
to the starting line-up for the first time since January 1 after
returning to training this week following a knee problem.

Head coach Steve Clarke has to decide whether to recall striker
Peter Odemwingie, who was left out against Spurs after the collapse
of his transfer deadline day move to QPR.

Caley Thistle lost three games in eight days - including two cup
ties against Hearts and Kilmarnock - before turning their
attentions to tomorrow's visit of SPL leaders Celtic.

But Draper is determined to show the doubters this season's
promise will not evaporate on the back of one week.

Inverness have come a long way since Terry Butcher assembled his
team following a number of departures at the end of last
season.

The previous visit of Celtic in August saw Neil Lennon's men win
4-2 but Draper's two late goals ensured the scoreline very much
flattered Inverness.

But they subsequently only lost to Motherwell between that game
and their current three-game losing run and won at Parkhead in
November to prove wrong those who wrote off Inverness after that
comprehensive defeat against Celtic.

Draper, who arrived from Macclesfield in the summer, said:
"People are entitled to their opinion but we had a new team coming
together.

"I think we have shown 20 games later, they are eating their own
words. We have shown what we can do as a team that's used to each
other.

"People are entitled to their opinions but it's nice to prove
them wrong sometimes.

"The Celtic game at home was early doors, we hadn't moulded
together as a team. We had a number of new faces and basically had
a back four that hadn't played together.

"It took us maybe seven or eight games to get going and get our
run started. We don't read too much into that game at home.

"The lads were terrific, I went down to watch them when I was
injured, away from home against Celtic. Celtic are aware we could
cause an upset on Saturday."

Draper insists nothing has changed in their approach since their
losing run, which has seen luck go against Butcher's side.

They lost on penalties against Hearts in the Scottish
Communities League Cup semi-final, were beaten by a late goal at St
Mirren Park, and lost captain Richie Foran and playmaker Andrew
Shinnie to injury in the first half of their William Hill Scottish
Cup defeat by Kilmarnock.

And Draper has now set his sights on ensuring they make their
season count as they look to hold on to second place in the
SPL.

"It's more realistic now," he said. "Early on in the season
people were saying: 'When is the bubble going to burst? They
haven't got the squad to finish in the top six'.

"I think we have proved we can do that throughout the
season.

"It might be a blessing in disguise that we have dropped out of
the two cups so we can concentrate on the league and finish as high
as possible. "Top six is very realistic for us but we want to
finish in the top two or three if we can."

Clarke was unaware of an alleged bust-up between Odemwingie and
right-back Steven Reid but believes his side are professional
enough to deal with any tension in a positive manner.

Albion released a statement on Friday afternoon in which they
confirmed the Nigerian international had been disciplined and had
apologised for his recent actions.

The 31-year-old issued a series of Twitter rants against the
club after a transfer request was rejected.

He then memorably turned up at Loftus Road without permission on
transfer deadline day only to be left in the cold as his planned
move to QPR collapsed.

Clarke said: "I don't think you can say everything is back to
normal because what happened, the whole episode, is something that
didn't need to happen.

"(But) I'm really pleased the club have come out with this
statement because it gives me the chance as a head coach to move
on.

"That's what myself and the players need to do. We need to move
on and concentrate on the football. I think it is important you try
and keep your squad together. That's what I've tried to do."

But Clarke admitted there may be some issues to resolve over
time.

"It is difficult to comment on whether there is any hostility
between individual members of the squad. They are in a different
dressing room from me," he said. "Will Odemwingie's return have a
destabilising effect? No it won't. I'm convinced of that.

"I couldn't deal with the matter until now. There was no
resolution. Now there is a resolution we can move forward as a
group of players. That is important."

He added: "I'm sure some of them will be happy the matter is
resolved. In fact I'm hoping most, if not all of them, are happy
the matter has been resolved and we can move on as a group of
players.

"How people take it personally is between Peter and the other
people. The most important thing is that professionally we move on
as a group of players."

When asked to confirm if there had been a row between Reid and
Odemwingie, Clarke said: "I don't know. If there has been a row
between Steven and Peter, I'm sure it was an honest row.

"My biggest grievance on that one is if you are telling me
someone in this building is letting stories out to the press,
that's more upsetting for me than Peter and Steven having an
exchange of words."

Clarke is still to decide whether Odemwingie will be part of the
squad for Wednesday's trip to Liverpool.

He said: "That is still to be determined. I only got that
statement half an hour before you guys so it's something we have to
look at over the next two or three days. I'll involve him when I
feel it is right to involve him."

Albion released the statement ahead of Clarke's weekly press
conference at the club's training ground.

It read: "West Brom have taken disciplinary action against
striker Peter Odemwingie in respect of his conduct over the past
fortnight.

"Odemwingie has accepted his punishment. He will now resume full
training with his team-mates and is available for first team
selection."

Odemwingie said: "I understand how my actions have been viewed
and I want to apologise to the club and our supporters for any
distress I have caused.

"I want to reassure everyone at the club and our fans that I
will continue to give my all whenever I am selected.

"We have enjoyed a good season so far and I aim to play my part
in keeping the club as high up the table as possible."

Albion chairman Jeremy Peace said: "This has been an extremely
difficult time for the club and it was imperative that we dealt
with such a serious matter both fully and correctly.

"We made our position very clear throughout - both privately to
Peter and publicly.

"Peter has apologised for his conduct to me personally and the
club and our supporters as a whole.

"He has accepted his punishment and promised to comply with all
club regulations moving forward.

"It was important that we resolved this episode as expediently
as possible to enable everyone to focus on the most important issue
at this club - competing in the Premier League."

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